Cars are parked in front of a portion of the municipal parking lot next to the Huntington Elks Lodge that was fenced off on Monday as part of developer’s plan.-

By Andrew Wroblewskiawroblewski@longislandergroup.com

The construction site of a mixed-use building with apartments has spilled over to a municipal parking in Huntington village.

A fence went up Monday, sectioning off an around seven-car-widths wide sliver of the town’s municipal lot next to the Huntington Elks Lodge.

At least a portion of that land will be excavated and used for parking at developer Stewart Avenue Ventures' 30 Stewart Ave. building, which is booked for retail space on the first floor, and 12 apartments across two upper floors. The plan put forth by Stewart Avenue Ventures, whose principals include Greg DeRosa and Mark Hamer, was a dozen spaces short of parking requirements as per town code, got a parking variance from the town zoning board last year.

Stewart Avenue Ventures purchased the portion of the town parcel for $208,750 last year.

The Long-Islander first reported on the sale in the July 21, 2016 issue. However, the report stated that the sale only included the portion of the town’s larger parcel that’s landlocked from the municipal lot by an elevation change. The previous owner of 30 Stewart Ave, Jeff Carbone, used that landlocked piece as a private parking lot for years without the town’s knowledge.

On Wednesday, town spokesman A.J. Carter said the sale also included the now fenced-off area. He said it will be used during “construction of a new retaining wall.” He was unsure whether the entire fenced-off area will be excavated, or if the town will gain back some of the land once a new retaining wall is built.

Carter said the municipal lot will then be configured and striped. He maintained that there will be “no loss of spaces.”

In its current, un-striped state, drivers typically create a third parking row in the lot, especially during peak hours. A third row for parking may no longer be possible as cars park in front of the fenced-off area.

Carter declined to comment on that third row.

Editor's note: 30 Stewart Ave. is owned by Stewart Avenue Ventures, LLC, whose principals include Greg DeRosa and Mark Hamer. Stewart Avenue Ventures purchased the property last year from previous owner Jeff Carbone. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated otherwise.